Control for loom reeds



July l5, 1941. R. s. TURNER CONTROL FOR LOOM REEDS Filed Feb. 1'7, 1940 INVEN TOR RICHARD G: TURNER 6&7

ATT RNEY Patented July 15, 1941 CONTROL FOR LOOM REEDS Richard G. Turner, Worcester, Mass.,.assignor to Crompton & Knowles Loom WOI'kS WOIOCStBI, Mass, a corporation of Massachusetts 7 g 7 Application February 17, 1940, Serial No. 319,511

11 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in reed controlling mechanism for looms and it is the general object of the invention to provide means whereby yielding of a reed will be initiated by means independent of the fell of the cloth prior to the completion-of a forward beat of the lay.

In the weaving of certain fabrics it is desirable to mount the reed so that it can yield rearwardly at the time of beat-up. This is particularly true with finer fabrics in the weaving of which a sensitive beat-up is desirable. ,It has been proposed heretofore to mount the'reed for pivotal motion with respect to the lay and provide springs or the like which yield when the reed strikes the fell of the cloth for the purpose of beating-up the weft. I have found in the weaving of certain delicate fabrics that barmarks in the fabric occur when the whole force necessary to move the reed about its axis is derived from the cloth.

In addition to the pivotal mounting for the reed there are-customarily employed other parts controlling the reedwhich are normally stationary with respect to the lay but which must be set in motion relatively to the lay when the reed yields. If conditions exist which cause occasional sticking of these parts or require unequal forces to set them in motion on succeeding picks of the loom the fell of the cloth will be subjected to'variable forces which'produce an uneven distribution of the weft in the fabric woven.

-It is an important object of my present inventionto provide means which initiate movement of the reed and parts connected thereto prior to engagement of the reed with the fell of the cloth. In this way any sticking of the parts or variation in the forces required to set them into motion with respect to the lay is overcome before the weft is beat-up toits final position in the fabric and asa result the wefts are evenly distributed in'the cloth. 7

It is another object of my present invention to provide "means to adjust the time in the forward beat of the lay at which turning of the reed is and the latter being turned by a force transmit-' ted through the pivotal connectionbetween the lay and the reed.

With these and other objects in view whic will appear as thedescription proceeds, my invention resides in the combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter described and. set forth,

In the accompanying drawing, wherein a convenient embodiment of my invention is set forth,

Fig. .l is a vertical section through a loom having my invention applied thereto and showing the lay in rearward position with the reed held in normal shuttle, guiding position with respect to the lay,

Fig. 2 is a view similar to Fig. 1 but in which the lay is approaching its foremost position preparatory to actual beat-up; 1

Fig. 3 is a view similar to the upper part of Fig. 2, but showing my invention operating to cause a rearward motion of the reed relatively to thelay immediately prior to beat-up,

Fig. 4 is a front elevation of the structure shown in Fig. 2 looking in the direction of arrow 4, and V Fig. 5 is a diagrammatic view setting forth the operation of the reed relatively to the lay at the momentreed turning starts.

Referring to the drawing, the invention is illustrated on oneside of the loom, and it is to be understood that the structure described hereinafter is located on both sides of the lay. The loom frame ID has a breast beam ll over which extends the woven cloth C having a fell F from which extend rearwardly the upper and lower warp threads W and W, respectively, which form the shed of the loom. A layJZ is mounted on layswords one of which is shown at 13 movable about an axis I4 relatively low in the loom. A connector I 5 driven by the topor crank shaft not shown operates to reciprocate the lay toward and from the breast beam during normal loom operation. T

Extending-upwardly from the lay sword is a lay end 20 having a stud 2| on which is pivotally mounted a bracket 22 to which the top rail 23 of the reed R is secured. Extending downwardly from the bracket 22 is anlarm 24 to which the.

stud 2| as an axis and is limited in its forward position with'respect to the lay by engagement with the'rail 25 with a part of the lay batten. as

suggested in Fig. 1. The lay has a shuttle race 28 along which the shuttle S travels.

In order to permit rearward yielding of the lower part of the reed with respect to the lay I provide a pressure lever 30 pivoted to the lay as at 3| and having an upper end or finger 32 which presses forwardly against the lower part of bracket 22; The lever has a forwardly extending arm 33 to which is attached a depending rod 34 pivoted as at 35 to an arm 36 movable vertically for purposes of adjustment around a fixed axis 31 by means of an adjusting screw 38; The latter is held in a stand 39 bolted or otherwise secured to the lower part of'the loom frame and having a rearwardly extending finger 40 to which is attached the lower end of a tension spring 4| the upper end of which is-held by an adjusting collar 42 on the rod 34. Verti-. cal adjustment on the collar 42 is effected by a set screw 43.

The pivotal connection 35 for the lower end of rod 34 is out of line with and in front of the axis l4 about which the lay swings. As a result of this relation rearward motion of the lay to the position shown in Fig. 1, for instance, places the spring 4| under considerable tension sufiicient to hold the reed properly aligned to guide the shuttle, but as the lay moves forwardly tension in the spring is reduced. So far as cer-.

tain features of my invention are concerned the particular form of reed tension is immaterial, it being 'suflicient that the reed can move against a resistance relatively to the lay about an axis supported on the lay when the latter approaches front center position. For further description ner, the shuttle S laying the pick of filling P in the shed in front of the reed wires 29. While the lay is in rearward position as shown in Fig. 1 the pin 55 which happens to be cooperating with rod 53 is located in the rear part of slot 54 and the finger 32 is therefore free to exert a forward pressure on the bottom rail 25. During forward motion of the lay, however, bar 56 swings with thelay and the pin 55 approaches the forward end of rod 50. When the parts reach the position shown for instance in Fig. 2,

a or full lines Fig. 5, wherein the lay is a slight distance behind the fell of the cloth the controlling pin 55 reaches the forward end of slot 54, after which continued forward motion of the I lay causes the reed structure to move about the of the particular means illustrated herein for making the reed yieldable rearwardly reference may be had to prior patent toLundgren No. 1,863,862. 4

In carrying my present invention into eifect I provide means for turning the reed about its axis 2| as the lay nears its front center position. As previously stated, it has been found that variable degrees of force are required to initiate turning of the reed with respect to the lay, this fact being due partly at least to the necessity for turning the bracket 22 with respect to the stud 2|, turning of lever 30 about its pivot 3! and moving rod 34 pivotally about its axis 35. Any tendency for pivotal connections to stick adds to the force required to start the turning of the reed and therefore increases the blow which the reed would strike the fell of the cloth'unless provision such as I make herein is made for starting'the turning of the reed prior to actual beat-up.

In order to illustrate my present invention fI show'a rod rendered adjustable as to length" by aturnbuckle 5| and having the rear end thereof pivotally connected as at 52 to'a'fixed part of the loom; The forward part of the rod is providedwith a head 53 slotted as at 54. The" controlling pin 55 as a temporary pivot, force being transmitted from the lay to the reed through the pivotal connection 2|. In this way turning of the reed with respect to the lay is initiated before the pick of filling P actually reaches the fell of the cloth and at the instant of beat-up all resistance encountered in turning the reed has beenovercome and the reed is moving rearwardly and angularly with respect to the lay. When the pick of filling P reaches the forward end of the shed it will therefore be beaten into the fell of the cloth by a reed which is al-.

ready moving with respect to the lay but at a 1 rate of forward motion less than that of other parts of the lay at equal distances from the axis l4. Under these conditions assurance is given not only that each succeeding pick of weft will be beaten into the fell of the cloth by the same s amount offorce, but that force will be somewhat less than would be thecase if the reed were fastened to the lay, or if all of the rearward motion of the reed were caused by a force transmitted through the fell of the cloth.

n nd ions nde which the loom is ope a d ma n r esi ab e adjus ents. with respect to he time du in h orward beat, of the lay at which initiation of turning of the reed Will start. It is for this 'reason'that I illustrate 4 5;: era t s 55,,tr1e upper pins in the bar slot is adapted to receive any one of a plurality of pins 55 distributed vertically along a depending bar 56 the upper end of which is secured as at 51 to the reed structure in such a way that rearwardmovement of the bar will cause rearward rocking of the reed about its axis 2|. The

rod 5|! is .illustratedin an intermediateposition with the...pins at.

operation, the lay grecil jocates. between;

frent andbackcenter positions. in the usual man- 55 mQ i e th ou h a el v ly lon are. and reachin the end f r d ead 3. om ra ively early in the forward motion of the lay, whereas the pins 55 at the bottom of the bar 53 move ;slowly and'start turning of the reed relatively late in the forward beat of the lay. When relatively large and coarse weft is being woven it is desirable to make provision for initiating reed turning relatively early, whereas when fine wefts are woven 'turning'of the reed can be delayed until relativelylate in the motion of the lay toward front center. I wish it to be understood,

however, that adjustment of the length of the rod' 50 by means of the turnbuckle 5| can also efiect'the desired changes in the time at which reed turning will start and I am thereforenot necessarily limited to the use of a series of pins located atdifferent distances from the axis of the reed.

From the foregoing it will be seen that I have provided simple mechanism'for initiating turning of the reed with respect to the lay prior to the time ofactual beat-up during forward motion of the lay. By reasonof my invention the fell fof the cloth is spared the variation in forces engagement withthe cloth. It will also be seen that. theepartgof' the. reed wires which actually .75.; strikes the fell of t e cloth. is 'travelling'forward at a rate lessthan the rate of other parts of the lay at thesame distance'from the lay axis and for this reason the cloth will have an appearmice as 'though it had been woven at a rate a considerable number of picks less than the rate at which the loom is actually operating. It will also be seen that I provide means for producing a variation in the extent to which forward motion of the cloth engaging part of the reed wires moves. As shown herein this variation is effected by means of a plurality of pins located at different distances from the reed axis, the pins nearer the axis when acting as a temporary pivot for the reed causing a relatively large backward motion of the reed relatively to the lay, while the pins at a greater distance from stud 2| produce a reduced rate of motion of the reed wires relativelyto the lay. It is to be understood also that the particular reed tension involving the finger 32 is merely illustrative, and is set forth as one example of such devices which might include parts which tend to' stick together and thereby resist movement by the cloth fell.

Having thus described my invention it will be seen that changes and modifications may be made therein by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention and I donot wish to be limited to the details herein disclosed, but what I claim is:

1. In a loom having a reciprocating lay movable through a range having front and back limits and having a reed pivoted to the lay along an axis vertically displaced from the fell of the cloth, that improvement comprising a stop for the reed independent of the cloth to be brought into action by forward motion of the lay to initiate rearward motion relatively to the lay around said reed axis of that part of the reed which strikes the fell of the cloth before the lay reaches the front limit of its motion.

2. In a loom having a reciprocating lay movable between front and back center positions and having a reed pivoted to the lay along an axis vertically displaced from the fell of the cloth, that improvement comprising a stop for the reed independent of the cloth to be brought into action by forward motion of the lay to initiate rearward motion relatively to the lay around said reed axis of that part of the reed which strikes the fell of the cloth before the lay reaches front center position, and means to vary the time during the forward motion of the lay at which the stop becomes effective to initiate turning of the reed relatively to the lay.

3. In a loom having a lay reciprocating between front and back center positions and having a reed movable about an axis on the lay along an axis vertically displaced from the fell of the cloth, that improvement comprising a plurality of elements moving with the reed and located at different distances from the reed axis, and a stop independent of the cloth and movable to different adjusted positions and capable of engagement with any of the elements but engaging only one element in any given adjusted position during motion of the lay toward front center position to initiate rearward motion relatively to the lay around said reed axis of that part of the reed which strikes the fell of the cloth before the lay reaches front center position, initiation of rearward motion of the reed occurring early in the forward motion of the lay when the stop engages an element relatively near the axis and occurring late in the forward motion axis vertically displaced from the fell of the cloth, and ;having a forwardly acting yielding member to hold the reed in normal position and against the action of which the reed can move about its axis re'arwardly relatively to ,the lay asthe latter nears the frontlimit of its motion, t l 1 at improvement comprising a stop independent of thecloth and positioned for operative connection to the .reed to initiate rearward motion relatively to the lay around. said reed axis of the part of thereed which engages the fell of thecloth and also initiate motion of said yieldin: member before the lay reaches the front limit of its range of motion.

5 5. In a loom containing a fabric and having a lay rocking about an axis below the fabric and. reciprocating between front and back center positions, the lay havinga reed pivoted thereto above the fell of the fabric, that improvement comprising a stop independent of the cloth for the reed to be brought into action by forward motion of the lay to initiate rearward motion relatively to the lay around said reed axis of:

that part of the reed which engages the fell of the cloth before the lay reaches frontv center position, said stop being located between the axis of the reed and the axis of the lay.

6. In a loom having a reciprocating lay movable between front and back center positions and having warp threads and cloth defining a cloth fell toward which the lay moves as the same approaches front center, the loom having also a reed pivoted to the lay along an axis vertically displaced from the fell of the cloth, and. movable with the lay toward said cloth fell, that improvement comprising means independent of the cloth brought into action by forward motion.

of the lay and reed to initiate rearward motion relatively to the lay around said reed axis of that part of the reed which engages the fell of the cloth prior to engagement of the reed with the cloth fell.

'7. In a loom having a reciprocating lay movable between front and back center positions and having warp threads and cloth defining a cloth fell toward which the lay moves as the same approaches front center, the m having also a reed pivoted to the lay along an axis vertically displaced from the fell of the cloth, and movable with the latter toward said cloth fell, that improvement comprising a stop independent of the cloth normally out of control position with respect to the reed when the lay is in rearward position, and means to connect the stop to the reed to initiate rearward motion relatively to the lay around said reed axis of that part of the reed which engages the fell of the cloth prior to engagement of the reed with the cloth fell during movement of the lay toward front center, continued forward motion of the lay after initiation of said rearward motion of the reed relatively to the lay causing engagement of the reed with the clothfell.

8. In a loom having a lay which reciprocates between front and back limits of motion and having a reed pivoted to the lay along an axis vertically displaced from the 'fell of the cloth,- the loom having warp threads and cloth defining a cloth fell below the axis about which the reed moves relatively to the lay and the latter having anaxis below the cloth fell, that improvement comprising a stop independent of theclothlocated between the axes of thereed and the lay normally out of controlling position with respect to the reed when the lay is in the rear part of the motion -thereof, and means dependent uponforward motion of the lay to cause the stop to initiate rearward motion relatively' to the lay around said reed axis of that part of the reed-which engages the fell of the clothduriirg the-forward motion of the lay'prior to engagement of the reed'with the cloth fell.

9; In a'loomhaving a lay which reciprocates between front and back limits of motion and havinga reed pivoted to the lay, above the fell of the cloth, and the lay having an axis below the cloth fell, that improvement comprising means including a stop independent of the cloth rendered efiective Icy-forward motion of the lay and located between'the axes of the reed and the lay to initiate rearward motion relatively to the lay around said reed axis of that part of the reed which'engages the fell of the cloth prior to engagementof the reed with the cloth fell, and means to vary the time during the forward beat of the lay at which said rearward motion of the reed' relatively to the lay is initiated by the st'op.- p

10: In a loom having a lay reciprocating betweerrfront and back-limits'of motion and having a med pivotally' mounted on the lay, that improvement' comprising means to be brought into action byforward" motion of the lay at any selectedone of a plurality of points'in the forward motion of the lay, dependent upon the size" of weftin the cloth, to initiate rearward motion relatively to'the lay around said reed axis of that part of the reed which engages the fell of the cloth prior to engagement of the reed with the to" a med for yieldingly exerting forward force on the reed tending to hold the same in normal position relatively to the lay, and means to initiate rearward motion relatively to the lay around said reed axis of that part of the reed which enga'gesthe fell of the cloth and movement of said pivoted parts about their pivots prior to engagement of the reed with the cloth fell.

RICHARD G. TURNER. 

